Year 840 After the Third Omni War. Celestial Docking Bay.
"Oh dear, her pulse is racing quite fast,"
Their loyal elven butler Albert stepped forward to offer a warm towel from a silver tray.
"Please breathe in the lavender Princess Annabella because it will calm your nerves before the flight,"
Albert offered gently.
"Thank you Albert,"
Anna whispered and took the towel with shaking hands.
"Step aside Albert, let me see my girl,"
Queen Seraphina rushed forward while her crown of living branches glowed with radiant warmth.
"My beautiful little light, whatever is the matter?"
Seraphina gently wiped away Anna’s tears with unconditional love.
"It is only a diplomatic mission to the Primordial Empire, I promise nothing in this reality can hurt you while we are here,"
her mother assured.
"If only you knew what those eldritch things did to you,"
Anna bit her lip and despaired internally.
"I am fine Mother, I just love all of you so much,"
Anna lied and buried her face into Seraphina’s warm chest.
"And we love you, sweet girl. you and your older sister carry the warmth of our entire realm,"
Seraphina kissed her head.
"She is just nervous, Mother,"
Crown Princess Angelica chimed in while her silver hair shimmered without a trace of trauma.
"Do not worry, Father, Mother I will ensure our young Annabella does not faint during the trade negotiations,"
Angelica smiled with naive confidence.
"I expect nothing less from my brilliant eldest daughter, so look after your sister,"
Noah laughed warmly and wrapped an arm around his wife.
"I always do,"
Angelica promised.
"The royal cruiser is prepped, Your Majesties, and High Paladin Vance is waiting at the airlock,"
Albert announced with a flawless bow.
"It is an honor to protect the crown, my Queens,"
Vance saluted from the ramp while his silver armor gleamed.
Anna pulled back from the embrace as her regressor trauma hardened into cold determination.
"I am the only one who knows what is coming, and I am the only one who can save them,"
Anna resolved.
"We should go, Angelica, because we have an alliance to secure,"
Anna steadied her voice.
"That is the spirit, Sister,"
Angelica nodded and linked their arms together.
Through the closing airlock doors, Anna watched her family and Albert waving goodbye.
"I will bear the weight of this survival alone and I will tear the Abyss apart with my bare hands to keep my family safe,"
Anna and Angelica headed into the Royal Cruiser and waved to their mother before departing.
The next day, Anna walked through the VIP promenade of the royal cruiser.
For the first time since regressing, the ice in her chest began to melt.
"Good morning, Princess,"
a pair of Royal Guards chimed in unison and saluted as she passed.
"Good morning, Sir Coal, Sir Vance,"
Anna replied with a bright smile.
"Make sure you visit the galley before we exit hyperspace. The Chef made those honey glazed lotus tarts you both like."
The guards beamed and their strict postures relaxed.
This peace... it was the peace Anna would burn her soul to protect.
At the end of the hall, Angelica waited near the observation deck with a datapad.
She looked up and smiled.
"You are in high spirits today, Annabella. Have you finally stopped worrying about Emperor Ares?"
"I have,"
Anna said and stepped beside her sister to look at the streaking violet lights of hyperspace.
"Whatever the Primordial Empire demands, we will handle it. Together."
Angelica reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Anna’s ear.
"We are the daughters of the Light. There is nothing in existence we cannot face."
BEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEP!
Suddenly, the ship trembled violently.
"WARNING. HULL BREACH IN SECTORS 2, 3, AND VIP PROMENADE. UNKNOWN ENTITIES DETECTED."
Anna froze.
The color drained from her face.
"No,"
her mind screamed.
"No, no, no. It’s Year 840. The cracks don’t appear for another thirty years!"
CRACK.
The reinforced hull dissolved.
Stained glass shattered inward.
And then the abyss poured in.
A tide of unnatural flesh and mismatched eyes surged through the breach.
"Defend the Princesses!"
Sir Coal roared and drew his silver broadsword with his blade glowing with divine aura.
But then thorny tentacle from the dark pierce his silver armor and lifted him into the air.
"Aaaargh!!!"
His body twisted as corruption flooded his veins and trapped him in endless agony.
"Coal!"
Vance screamed and froze in terror.
Anna stood paralyzed.
The trauma of her past lives crashed down on her.
"Why are they here? The timeline is broken. Did my regression cause a butterfly effect?"
Anna’s mind raced with panic.
"Did I bring them with me?!"
But then an eldritch mass lunged toward Vance with its jaws open.
Before she could think, her body moved.
She blurred forward with her Divine Core ignited.
She grabbed Vance’s collar and ripped him backward just as the creature’s jaws snapped shut.
With her free hand, she summoned a blade of searing Light and cleaved the creature’s head off.
Black blood hissed against the marble.
"Move!"
Anna commanded and her voice dropped its royal cadence for the harsh bark of a veteran.
"Evacuate to the escape pods! Now!"
The surviving crew scrambled and shook off their paralysis.
"Annabella!"
Angelica shouted and drew her light rapier to rush forward.
"What are these things?!"
"Do not let them touch you!"
Anna warned and deflected another barrage of appendages.
Suddenly the ship pitched violently.
A massive entity pulled itself from the breach.
It was a hulking amalgamation of bone and dozens of human like arms.
The creature locked its dozens of eyes on Angelica.
"Sister, above you!"
Anna screamed.
Angelica thrust her rapier upward but was unprepared for the creature’s density.
Its massive fist shattered her blade and slammed into her chest.
Angelica was thrown backward and crashed into the blast doors.
She slumped to the floor and coughed blood.
As the beast raised a scythe like arm to execute her.
BOOM.
Anna hit the beast like a meteor.
Her divine energy exploded on impact and knocked the horror back.
"Princess Angelica!"
Vance and the retainers rushed to lift her.
"Take her to the pods!"
Anna shouted while her eyes locked on the screeching mini boss.
"I will hold them here!"
"No!"
Angelica gasped and struggled against the guards.
"I am the Crown Princess. I will not leave you behind! Anna, fall back with us!"
Anna didn’t look back as she felt the endless tide of horrors.
The ship was already lost.
If they ran, the mini boss would chase them down.
Someone had to hold the line.
Anna stepped backward and closed the distance to her sister.
"I love you, Angelica,"
Anna whispered.
Before her sister could react, Anna chopped her hand on Angelica’s neck.
Angelica’s eyes rolled back and she went limp.
"Take her,"
Anna ordered the terrified guard.
"If a single scratch falls upon her, I will kill you myself. Go!"
Vance nodded frantically and hauled Angelica over his shoulder to sprint down the corridor.
The blast doors slammed shut and sealed the promenade.
Anna was alone as the mini boss roared and shadows swirled as dozens more horrors pulled themselves through the breach.
Anna lowered her stance as her white dress was stained with black blood.
She reached deep into her soul and felt the heavy weight of her battered Divine Core.
"You arrived a little early,"
Anna said while her eyes glowed and stared into the abyss.
"But that just means I get to kill you sooner. Come get me Ugly freaks."